Widow accuses Shell Petroleum Development Company of land encroachment

A widow in Rivers State identified as Madam Theresa Allen has alleged that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has forcefully encroached on her land at Onyeidah forest, Ikata community, in Ahoada East Local Government.

The widow revealed to THE NATION in Port Harcourt that SPDC allegedly destroyed her farm crops and illegally fenced off a portion of her land to build quarters for military personnel securing its facilities, which shared boundary with the property.

The widow said it was her late husband, Mr Money Allen that acquired the land for his nuclear family’s residential building and that preparation for the building started two years before he died.

She added that it was sad that the oil company took advantage of her husband’s death to violate her right. She demanded compensation for her destroyed cassava, alleging that she wanted to retrieve the portion of land encroached on by SPDC.

The widow the gave the company 14 days ultimatum to pull down the structure erected on the land and compensate her for the damaged crops.

The spokesperson of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr Michael Adande said Shell did not encroach her land as the widow has alleged but the widow’s brother-in-law was involved in the transaction.